Majoring on Jesus – why?

Five reasons Jesus came to earth1. To represent God the Father2. To demonstrate God’s power3. To provide for our salvation4. To set up God’s Kingdom on earth5. To fulfil the ultimate plan of God

“Come to Me”

“Believe in Me”

“Follow Me”

“Obey Me”

BELIEVE AND BE BAPTISED

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved…”

Mark 16:15-16

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound,

JOHN 3

but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

I don’t need a coach to help me perform better!

“Self Help” is an $11 billion industry80% of consumers are “repeat buyers”

Guardian Dec 13’

I need to be reborn – I need a Saviour to believe in!

WHY BE BAPTISED?

WHY BE BAPTISED?

Baptism is like a wedding…

1. Coming into a name/family2. Committing your life 3. Celebrating your relationship

1. COMING INTO A NAME/FAMILY

Jesus commands the disciples to…“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in [or ‘into’] the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Matthew 28:19-20

LIST OF “BEST” WIFE/HUSBAND NAMES

1 Katie 1 David2 Sophie 2 Andrew3 Louise 3 Daniel4 Sarah 4 Paul5 Emily 5 John6 Charlotte 6 William7 Elizabeth 7 Simon8 Amy 8 James9 Jessica 9 Chris10 Lucy 10 Stephen

taken from Time Magazine

A baptism shows you have taken on God’s name and joined his family

Just like a bride takes her partner’s name and enters their family

2. COMMITTING YOUR LIFE

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved…”

Mark 16:15-16

“If you like it then you should have put a ring on it” Beyoncé

A baptism is you showing your commitment to Jesus

Just like marrying your partner shows your commitment to them

3. CELEBRATION OF RELATIONSHIP

3 Or do you not know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”

Romans 6:3-5

DON’T TELL THE BRIDE…

DON’T TELL THE BRIDE…

Kaleigh had departed and my best man Anthony Shore had moved in - it was time to get organising our big day. The question was where do we get married? I wanted Las Vegas, Kaleigh wanted the stately home so there was only one way to decide - a spin of the roulette wheel. Black for Vegas, red for the UK. We entered the casino and placed our bet. Watching the ball roll around seemed to take forever to drop to reveal our wedding destiny, finally... black. One thought entered my head: "She's going to kill me! "The decision was made and the first stop was to book the flights. I hadn't prepared myself for the cost, as the first travel agent quoted £12,000 to fly all of us out there. This was going to be a lot harder than I'd thought. I had to cut the wedding party down to the bare minimum, which meant leaving a bridesmaid, my sister, and Kaleigh's brother at home. It was a heartbreaking decision to make. I chose the dress for my bride-to-be and, in my mind, what I had set up was an absolute dream and would knock the socks off a UK wedding. You'll see in the programme why, the night before, I still wasn't sure if I would be a married man the next morning.On arriving home, there was some explaining to do. Kaleigh's sister Sam didn't talk to me for a week but thankfully now all is forgiven.On reflection, if I was asked would I do it again, the answer would be yes, but I wouldn't have gambled on a wedding with only half the family being present.We're planning on having a blessing and a big bash, where all our family and friends will be invited. I think I'll leave the planning to Kaleigh!

3. CELEBRATION OF RELATIONSHIP

A baptism is all about Jesus and what he has done

Just like a wedding is all about celebrating the bride!

WHY BE BAPTISED?

Baptism is a Public Display of Affection:

It is a Public display of your love for Jesus by …

1 Coming into his “name”/family2 Committing your life3 Celebrating your relationship

Confession“Fan into flame the spiritual gift God gave…”

2Timothy 1:6“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline”

2Timothy 1:7

Prophesy“And the Lord says, ‘O man of God, I did not call you just to exhort, I did not call you just to encourage,’ but the Lord says, ‘I called you to handle my power.’ And the Spirit of God says, ‘Son, that’s where the cry of your heart has been. God I’m ready for the days of demonstration.’ And the Lord says, ‘Son, the things that I have promised are not far from you. Son, I will bring a stirring in the area of healing and the miraculous.’And the Lord says, ‘But son, you’ll see, it’ll not just be done with the quietness of prayers.’ The Lord says, ‘There’s a warrior yet to be released inside of you.’The Lord says, ‘Son, with the shout of the King in your midst,’ the Spirit of the Lord says that you’re going to find out the things that have thwarted people’s lives for years even in the health arena will be the things that can no longer stay in the midst.’”

A secret to share• When God makes you a promise – He

will fulfil it!• Don’t let excuses and red herrings

prevent you• Receive prayer for you or someone

else!